The current 18-week paid parental leave (PPL) scheme is ill-suited to mothers who choose to exclusively breastfeed their children, according to a new study from the Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health.

The study found that mothers who exclusively breastfeed spend 18 hours per week on feeding time, which is 6.6 hours longer than those who introduce solids or formula.

These findings have implications for health policies and the PPL scheme which is currently set at a maximum of 18 weeks, a time frame in conflict with the study’s recommendation of six months.